In the hallway she pulled it out and placed it to her ear. “Maggie Hart.”

  “Are you the one who took the 9-1-1 call about Rochelle’s?”

  She drew her brow downward. “I am.”

  “We found her, dead. I’m sending over some of my investigators to go over the call with you. Will you meet them at the 911 office?”

  “I will.” She paused. “Are there any more details?”

  “Nope.”

  “Nope, huh? That’s all you can tell me. All right then. I guess I’m meeting you at the 911 office.”

  Maggie hung up the call. Quinn had slipped back into their office while the officers pulled Archie out. She needed to tell him that she had to go, that she might have just caught a case.

  There were commotions going on all around her. Part of her wished she was at her apartment with Tristan. Maybe she could have that conversation with him about moving. Or maybe she could not talk about it and just hope those feelings faded.

  No matter what she decided to do about that right now, people were racing past her and down the hall. She backed up so she wouldn’t get run over. She would need to go soon. The investigators would probably be waiting.

  Chapter Twelve

  Manis stared out the window as Marsha took her call. The fact that officers were trying to use their computers didn’t surprise her. The fact that they found out information on the little boy did.

  “Important call?”

  Manis’ voice grated on her nerves. She lowered the phone and replaced it in her purse type briefcase. She settled on the leather sofa and crossed her legs at the ankles. The way she handled this assignment would determine her future. That fact wasn’t lost on her.

  “All calls are important.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “Let’s discuss your case list.”

  “Currently?”

  “Of course. Tell me what your office is working on.”

  Director Manis didn’t even look at a paper or the computer as he spouted off the information. “Echo Team is working on a drug smuggling ring. Charlie Team is assisting with illegal goods being smuggled in through cargo containers. Beta Team is working on a group of college students selling fake immigration papers.”

  “And Alpha Team?” She held her breath.

  “They are working on a missing person’s case.”

  “Who’s missing?”

  “We don’t know.”

  “How can you not know?”

  He shrugged. “They found a kid in the back of Greg Kane’s car. He can’t remember his name or where he came from. We are trying to assist with that.”

  “So, no real updates on the kid?” Marsha crossed her legs. Her foot bounced. Hopefully, Manis didn’t notice.

  He noticed.

  His laser vision and attention eyed her foot, and she willed it to stop and placed it back on the floor. “Nervous habit.”

  “Maybe you should get that looked at.” His voice held a gloating tone.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Do you have questions other than about the kid?”

  Did she?

  She’d been sent to investigate the office but the kid that just popped up on the radar was of some urgency apparently. She’d received the text on the way over.

  Find out all information about the kid in PAU custody.

  She hadn’t any idea what the text meant until she had opened the door to the PAU offices and saw the kid standing there with Detective Ericka Stone. In Marsha’s opinion, the entire reason for the PAU investigation was because of her. All the cases that came through that office in the last couple of months had surrounded Ericka Stone. She was going to get a good thing shut down.

  Right then the door slapped the wall and Ericka Stone stood in the opening. Her chest rose and fell, her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open.

  “Do you know what they are doing?” She paused. “Sir?”

  Manis looked from her to Ericka. “I might, but it would help if you told me what you’re referring to.”

  Ericka eyed her warily. She would have offered to step out during normal circumstances, but these weren’t normal circumstances.

  “You can speak freely.”

  “Sir, respectfully, I don’t think I can.”

  “I assume she is referring to my presence.” Marsha barely withheld her smile.

  “I believe she is.” Manis didn’t act upset by that at all.

  Marsha rose and brushed down her skirt. “I guess that I will give you two time to discuss. Excuse me.” She muttered the words as she skirted around Ericka.

  Outside the door, she left it cracked. The secretary was away from her desk and Marsha leaned in to hear the conversation.

  “She has officers taking away Tito to discuss things secretly. And she is checking every computer. They are keeping us from looking for Bud’s parents. What is all this about?”

  Marsha narrowed her eyes. She had not sent an agent to discuss anything with Tito Santos. In fact, she’d thought talking to him was a mistake. He wouldn’t keep things from his father even with threats.

  Someone clearing their throat behind her had Marsha straightening and turning around. The secretary had entered. Her arms were crossed, and she tapped her foot with a clacking noise on the hard tile.

  Marsha gave her a twisted smile. “I thought I lost something.”

  “Uh-uh. Maybe you would like to go control your people. They are interrupting several ongoing investigations. Local captains are calling for updates and I’m having to explain the delay.”

  “Of course, I’ll do that.” Marsha headed back toward the main office on the floor below.

  She’d entered with a certain amount of confidence in her authority and her position. That morning she’d been sure she was doing the right thing, now she was worried that wasn’t the case.

  When she reached the office hallway, she noticed that officers under her control were confiscating computers. She grabbed one by the arm as they went to pass.

  “Who ordered you to take these computers?”

  “You did.”

  “I did no such thing.”

  “Look at your phone. We all received the text.”

  Marsha looked at her phone. Sure enough, an office wide text had gone out from her directing that all computers in the PAU be confiscated.

  This was not good. She needed to get back upstairs before they came for her.

  ****

  Maggie had reentered the office right as Quinn was closing down his computer.

  “You can’t take it! I’m in the middle of finding someone that is stalking an officer.”

  “Dude, we have to. Evers sent a text. See?” The man lifted his phone and let Quinn look at it.

  Maggie was tempted to close the gap so she could see as well, but she stayed where she was. Her laptop was in her desk drawer under lock and key. She had no intention of revealing that fact. Hers might be the only one still safe. The only one with the necessary files for their office to function.

  “Why do you have to, Dude? That text doesn’t look real. Why would she order such a thing? She wants us to work and solve cases while she is proving we aren’t relevant. Right?”

  Or maybe she didn’t want them to. Maggie would voice that opinion later.

  “Don’t know, don’t care. I’m getting paid, I’m taking the computer.”

  Quinn stepped back and let the device go with the stranger. Once it was out of the room, Quinn looked at her. She held out her hand and he went first into the hallway. His shoulders were squared as he stalked to the elevator. He wasn’t the only one.

  Everyone in the office had the same posture and seemed to be headed in the same direction. Maggie kept her mouth shut about her computer and followed the long line. She needed to tell someone that she had to leave then be on her way, but first she had to know where this was going to go.

  Once they all exited in front of Monica on the upper floor the words started to fly.

  “They took my computer!”

  “How am I supposed to get our notes on our current case?”

  “We had all the videos of our interviews there. We were reviewing them! That case goes to trial in two days, and we’re supposed to testify.”

  “People are going to suffer because of this.”

  Maggie noticed that Marsha Evers was hidden in a corner behind a large fern-like plant. She was staring at her phone and biting her bottom lip. She looked up and Maggie caught her gaze.

  She looked back down, but not before Maggie noticed that something wasn’t right.

  Maggie left the crowd and approached Ms. Evers. “Is something wrong? I mean other than there is an angry mob looking for you.”

  Marsha grabbed her by the arm and pulled her behind the plant. “Look at this. This text says I told the agents that they are to pull the computers, only I didn’t send this text.”

  Maggie looked at the phone screen. “Um, it looks like you did.”

  “But I’m telling you I didn’t! It has come from my number, I see that. But I didn’t send it. Why would I need computers at this stage? First, I was talking to the agents, just me. Now I hear that someone else is interviewing agents.”

  “You mean you didn’t tell Amy Guild to interview Tito?” Maggie’s heart raced and her mouth went dry.

  “Amy who? I didn’t bring anyone else for interviews. They gave me the job because, well because…”

  “Because you hate this office and never wanted it to be a thing.”

  “Well, yes. That is true, but if the office is operating in a capacity that is worthy then it should stay in operation.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  Marsha ran her hands through her hair. “How am I going to fix this? I don’t know anything about the computers.”

  “I’d say several of the people out there gunning for you could help.”

  Marsha sighed. “Would you mind helping me ask?”

  “I might be able to do that, but I would like assurances that we’re going to get a fair shake.”

  “I promise, you’ll get a fair shake.”

  Maggie shrugged. “Let’s shake on it.” She put out her hand, and Marsha took it.

  Once the handshake was over, Maggie stepped out of hiding. “All you computer nerds, I need your help.”

  The crowd turned and gave Maggie a curious look. Quinn stepped forward. “What do you need help with?”

  Maggie smiled. It was good to have friends.

  ****

  Tito sipped at his drink. Amy had tried to get him to drink several times, but he’d refused. Then a text came through on his phone.

  Amy isn’t really supposed to be interviewing you. She doesn’t work for Marsha.

  Tito smiled sweetly as he stood. “Would you excuse me? I need to call the office and check on Bud.”

  “Of course.”

  He went to the men’s room, the one place he figured she wouldn’t follow. He dialed the office and Archie picked up.

  “Santos, they took all our computers based on a text that came from Evers’ phone. She doesn’t know how it happened. And she never ordered Guild or anyone else to talk to you. You need to stall Guild until we find out what is going on and see what you can glean from her. We think all of this has something to do with Bud, but we can’t figure out how or why.”

  “Will do.”

  “Why are you echoing? Did you take me into the restroom?”

  “Afraid so.”

  “Gross. I’m letting you go now.”

  Tito rolled his eyes as he replaced his phone in his pocket. He washed his hands and studied himself in the mirror. He needed to have a blank face. He needed to ask probing questions. It shouldn’t be too hard to get answers from Guild. She’d been drinking all afternoon. Mostly coffee, but other things as well.

  He exited the bathroom and there she was leaning against the opposite wall.

  “I thought you might try to escape.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know because you discovered that I’m not supposed to be interviewing you or that all the computers in the office were taken. Something like that.”

  His heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t twitch. He wouldn’t allow his body to do that.

  “I need you to come with me.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  The gun that showed up at her side was pointed directly at him.

  “I think so. I want you to move toward the front door and outside into the parking lot. We’re going on a little trip.”

  He followed her lead. He put his hands in his pockets to act casually, but he was actually trying to call the office. He turned his phone on silent. Then he whistled to add to the casual. Hopefully someone answered and listened instead of hanging up.

  Outside on the sidewalk a black van pulled up and the door slid open. He climbed inside trying to find a way to share the vehicle description in a natural way.

  Nothing came to him.

  “So, where are we going?”

  Amy laughed. “Clever.” She looked at one of the guys in the back with him. “Place the bag over his head.”

  The bag smelled like dishwashing soap, strong dishwashing soap.

  It could have been worse.

  He counted the times they stopped at lights. He counted in between the lights. He counted turns.

  When they came to a stop, he repeated the information over and over in his head. He needed to put it down somewhere or text it to the office.

  “J, did you get his phone?”

  “You didn’t say to.”

  Tito reached in and turned it off before J reached in to get it. The phone was taken. Then the hood was ripped off his head taking hair with it.

  “I don’t understand why you’re doing this.” He shook his hair out and drew in a deep breath.

  Amy sighed.

  “Are you really Amy Guild? You’re legendary. I’ve read articles about your cases. You’ve rescued kidnapped kids all over the world.” He had been quite impressed by her litany of rescues.

  “And here I thought you were smarter than the rest. I’d heard impressive things about you as well. Your intuition. Your ability to gauge a situation.”

  He sucked in a swift breath and stopped walking. The man holding his recently zip-tied hands behind him bumped him but stopped as well.

  “You kidnapped them!”

  “Nice deduction. Maybe my faith has been restored, because you almost have it right.”

  “Almost? How could I not have it correct?”

  Two metal doors parted. Dust swirled around a woman and man who exited. They both looked like they were dressing for a steam punk convention.

  “That’s because we do the kidnapping.”

  Tito swallowed.

  “Welcome, Tito Santos, we’ve been waiting for you.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Greg had been waiting for Ericka and Bud to return home. When a police car finally brought them over and dropped them off, he rushed out the door to greet them.

  “Want to come over and have a sandwich?”

  “I thought you were sick.” Ericka reached back inside the front seat of the car for her purse.

  “I was, but I feel great now. Honestly, I think it was something I ate.” He wouldn’t share the part about Heidi cooking it.

  “What do you say, Bud? Want a sandwich? I don’t really feel like cooking.”

  “And afterward we’ll go to a park. I found one close by,” Greg interjected quickly before he lost his nerve.

  “A park!” Bud bounced from foot to foot. “Can we?”

  “Sure, why not. Let me go put my stuff in the house first. You want to go on over with Greg?”

  “Yup.” Bud had already grabbed his hand and was swinging it back and forth.

  Greg felt bad that Ericka had taken the first step into her house without him. He’d wanted to be there to explain, but she’d already gone in, and she hadn’t said anything so everything must be all right.

  He knew that she hadn’t had time to order groceries or go shopping so he was happy she’d agreed to sandwiches. It was the only way he could think of to help.

  She returned from dropping off her things and he blurted, “How was the office?”

  “Confusing. Tito disappeared. The computers were taken. Everyone was mad and yelling at a Marsha Evers who had something happen to her phone.”

  “I see.” He’d not heard any of that. Apparently, today had been a bad day to miss—or a good day, depending on how one looked at it.

  The car still sat out in front of the house. Quinn had promised surveillance, but in light of what had happened at the office that day, he doubted it was coming.

  “That the car?” Ericka motioned over her shoulder with her head as she reached them entering the house.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t have it towed.”

  “Better, I’m watching it.”

  “Ah, good idea.”

  Her smile warmed his heart, but he tapped it down. He’d seen that smile in his dream, he thought, maybe. He’d gone back to sleep after his early wake up, but the vision hadn’t returned. The park, the kid, Ericka, all of it was gone.

  He wanted it back.

  “I love eating!”

  Greg made a masterpiece. Between the two slices of bread, he put ham, turkey, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard, and mayo and put it down on the table. Bud settled and began to eat. He didn’t complain about any of the items. He casually put the tomatoes aside and kept eating.

  “Anymore information on Bud’s family?”

  “We were this close!” Ericka pinched her fingers together. “There was a ding that announced an answer and then bam!” She slapped her hands together. “Marsha’s minions came in and took the computer just like that.”

  “Marsha’s people did that?”

  “So, it seems. Well, maybe. Truthfully it looked like it was on her authority, but now we aren’t sure. Quinn was taking apart her phone and checking when I left.” Ericka grabbed a sandwich for herself and joined Bud at the table. She lifted it and took a huge bite. Then she got up and got Bud a drink which she placed beside his plate.